Wornall/Majors House Museum

Wornall/Majors House Museum The John Wornall & Alexander Majors House Museums are among Kansas City's most historic structures! Majors would go on to co-found the Pony Express.

The Wornall/Majors House Museums manages two of Kansas City's most historic landmarks: the John Wornall House and the Alexander Majors House. These homes serve as the place for dynamic history educational programming related to the Civil War, early Kansas City history, transportation and communication on the frontier, and the lives of women and minorities in these homes. The Wornall House, built i

n 1858, was the farmstead home of a prosperous farmer. It later served as a field hospital during the Battle of Westport, often called the "Gettysburg of the West." The Majors House, built in 1856, was the headquarters for Alexander Majors' freighting firm, Russell, Majors & Waddell.

How did Missouri’s laws shape slavery for more than 180 years? From French colonial rule to statehood and the Civil War,...
06/18/2026

How did Missouri’s laws shape slavery for more than 180 years? From French colonial rule to statehood and the Civil War, legal systems continually enforced and adapted slavery in Missouri. This blog post traces the changing laws that controlled Black life, restricted freedom, and sustained enslavement until 1865. Read the full story to see how law helped build and protect slavery in Missouri: https://wornallmajors.org/tracing-enslavement-law-in-missouri/

Celebrate the legal end of enslavement in the United States by visiting either the John Wornall House Museum or the Alexander Majors House Museum tomorrow for free.

So many visitors lined up last year to get their photo with Buffalo Bill that we had to bring him back for this year’s D...
06/17/2026

So many visitors lined up last year to get their photo with Buffalo Bill that we had to bring him back for this year’s Drop-In History: Frontier Life in Missouri event.

Stop by anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on July 18 to snap a photo with the man who shaped the legend of the Wild Wild West.

Learn more and register at: https://wornallmajors.org/events/drop-in-history-frontier-life-in-missouri/

A special thanks to the Leawood Historic Commission for lending us Bill.

A look at our Drop-In History: Enslavement in Missouri event on Saturday. Thanks go out to the Missouri Humanities Counc...
06/17/2026

A look at our Drop-In History: Enslavement in Missouri event on Saturday.

Thanks go out to the Missouri Humanities Council, the Black Archives of Mid-America, and all the folks who came out to visit.

Explore the history of Loose Park on this guided walking tour and learn how this landscape became one of Kansas City’s m...
06/16/2026

Explore the history of Loose Park on this guided walking tour and learn how this landscape became one of Kansas City’s most meaningful public spaces. In 1927, Mrs. Jacob Loose purchased the former Kansas City Country Club property and donated it to the city as a memorial to her husband, helping shape the park we know today.

The last tour sold out - catch the next one on June 25 before the tickets are gone.

https://wornallmajors.org/events/loose-park-walking-tour-293/

Did you find yourself wondering this morning how Flag Day became a thing? We did too. The observance of Flag Day develop...
06/14/2026

Did you find yourself wondering this morning how Flag Day became a thing? We did too. The observance of Flag Day developed over time.

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress approved the design of the United States flag. More than 100 years later, on June 14, 1889, George Bolch, a kindergarten principal in New York City, held a Flag Day program at his school. The New York State Department of Education approved of the idea and required other public schools to do the same.

Another important step came in 1888, when William T. Kerr founded the American Flag Day Association in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1893, the Society of Colonial Dames in Pennsylvania also worked to have June 14 recognized as Flag Day, adding to the growing movement.

By 1916, the observance had gained national attention. That year, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation recognizing June 14 as Flag Day. President Calvin Coolidge issued a similar proclamation in 1927.

Finally, on August 3, 1949, Congress approved June 14 as the national observance of Flag Day.

Pictured: Flag Day celebration at the Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 1913. In the collection of the Library of Congress.

The signs are up, the A/C is on, and we’re ready for you.Stop by the Alexander Majors House Museum today from 10 a.m. to...
06/13/2026

The signs are up, the A/C is on, and we’re ready for you.

Stop by the Alexander Majors House Museum today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for our free Drop-In History event: Enslavement in Missouri. Explore the self-guided experience and connect with staff from the Black Archives of Mid-America.

Join us at 3 p.m. for a keynote on enslavement at the Majors property, or bring the family for themed story time with Mr. Dave at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., or 2:30 p.m.

“Abroad marriage” was a painful reality of slavery in Missouri. In rural areas, enslaved spouses were often held by diff...
06/12/2026

“Abroad marriage” was a painful reality of slavery in Missouri. In rural areas, enslaved spouses were often held by different enslavers on separate properties, sometimes miles apart. Visits could be brief and uncertain, and every aspect of family life depended on permission from the people who claimed ownership over them.

Because Missouri slavery was often small-scale, families were especially vulnerable to separation. Marriage, partnership, and kinship carried no legal protection, and sale, hiring out, or relocation could split families apart without warning. Enslavers also benefited from these unions, since children born to enslaved women increased their labor force.

Learn more in person tomorrow at our free event: https://wornallmajors.org/events/drop-in-history-enslavement-in-missouri/
Learn more online by visiting our blog: https://wornallmajors.org/news/

Pictured: The Parting - "Buy us too" by Henry Louis Stephens.

Talking to your kids about difficult parts of history isn’t always easy—but it’s important. Let us help start the conver...
06/12/2026

Talking to your kids about difficult parts of history isn’t always easy—but it’s important.

Let us help start the conversation.

On June 13, WMHM is hosting a free event about Enslavement in Missouri. The event will feature signs dedicated to talking about enslavement with your kids. At 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Mr. Dave will host an elementary story featuring three books about the topic.

More information at: https://wornallmajors.org/events/drop-in-history-enslavement-in-missouri/

The books will include: Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky - Faith Ringgold
Show Way - Jaqueline Woodson
CeeCee - Shana Keller

At WMHM we try to plan our event schedule to have a little something for everyone. July 10 is for you, paranormal people...
06/11/2026

At WMHM we try to plan our event schedule to have a little something for everyone. July 10 is for you, paranormal people.

Certified medium Peggy Ewing will lead guests through a live paranormal investigation inside the Alexander Majors House on the evening of July 10. The 1856 home has a well-documented reputation as a haunted location, with accounts of unexplained activity that have drawn investigators from across the country. Each session opens with a history presentation on the house and Alexander Majors, then moves into the investigation. All-ages session: 6:00 p.m., $20/person. Adults-only session: 7:30 p.m., $50/person.

Tickets at: https://wornallmajors.org/events/paranormal-night-at-the-alexander-majors-house-museum/

Volunteering with a historical organization can seem daunting to some. Not everyone wants to give a guided history tour....
06/10/2026

Volunteering with a historical organization can seem daunting to some. Not everyone wants to give a guided history tour.

WMHM has a role for every history lover with a few hours to spare. Event volunteers handle the pieces that make those programs run: setup and breakdown, guest check-in, helping with crafts and activities, selling raffle tickets, and more. We match volunteers to events and tasks based on their interests and availability, so you're not just filling a slot.

Learn more at: https://wornallmajors.org/volunteer-with-wmhm/

Address

6115 Wornall Road
Kansas City, MO
64113

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+18164441858

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Wornall/Majors House Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Wornall/Majors House Museum:

Shortcuts

Share

Category